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A vivid illustration of a single red rose, its petals shriveled and stem bent, drooping heavily as if losing life.

muera

MWEH-rah

Verb (Conjugated Form)B1Irregular (Stem-changing O>UE and O>U in Preterite/Subjunctive) ir
may die?subjunctive: expressing a wish or doubt about a third person,don't die?negative formal command (Usted)
Also:should die?expressing obligation or necessity

Quick Reference

infinitivemorir
gerundmuriendo
past Participlemuerto

📝 In Action

Es terrible que un niño muera de hambre en el mundo.

B1

It is terrible that a child may die of hunger in the world.

Dudo que el árbol muera, es muy fuerte.

B2

I doubt that the tree will die, it is very strong.

¡No muera usted, doctor! Lo necesitamos.

A2

Don't die, Doctor! We need you. (Formal command)

Ojalá que esta vieja tradición nunca muera.

B1

Hopefully, this old tradition never dies.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • fallezca (may pass away (more formal))
  • sucumba (may succumb)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • que no muera – that it doesn't die
  • antes de que muera – before it dies

💡 Grammar Points

The Subjunctive Mood

The form 'muera' is used when expressing desires, doubts, emotions, or uncertainty about the action of dying. It means the action is not a solid fact.

Formal Negative Commands

When you give a formal order to one person (Usted) not to do something, you use this special verb form: ¡No muera! (Don't die!)

Stem Change in Subjunctive

The stem of the verb morir changes from O to UE in the present tense (muero, muere) but changes to U in the 'we' and 'you all' (plural) forms of the subjunctive: muramos, muráis.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the Indicative for Wishes

Mistake: "Espero que no *muere*."

Correction: Espero que no *muera*. (The verb 'esperar' (to hope) always makes the next verb use the special subjunctive form.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Focus on the Trigger

If the sentence starts with a phrase showing doubt (Dudo que...), wish (Ojalá que...), or emotion (Me entristece que...), you almost always need to use a form like 'muera'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: muera

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'muera' to express a desire?

📚 More Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it 'muera' and not 'mora'?

The verb *morir* is irregular. In the present tense, the 'o' inside the verb changes to 'ue' in most forms (like 'muere' and 'muera'). This is called a stem change, a very common irregularity in Spanish verbs.

Is 'muera' always about actual death?

No. It is often used figuratively to mean 'to cease to exist,' 'to stop,' or 'to end.' For example, 'Espero que la tradición no muera' means 'I hope the tradition doesn't end.'